Are you starting to feel year end pressure?
So much can come down to the end of the year, from all of your major projects, your clients’ last-minute requests, and the fiscal year-end tasks that have to be done…
It can feel super overwhelming to try and successfully tackle it all.
The reason we FEEL such pressure is that there are high expectations to “finish the year strong.” And no matter what kind of work is left for you to finish, we’re all feeling a little overwhelmed.
It’s time to ESCAPE that end of the year pressure before it eats us alive.
Read on to learn how!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What is end-of-year fatigue?
- How to manage year end pressure
💡Key takeaways:
- Year end pressure is the feeling that comes from needing to finish your work year on a high note with little time left
- 41% of Americans say their stress is higher between November and January than at other points throughout the year
- You can ease year end pressure by prioritizing, taking a step back, focusing on the right things, and taking action.
What is end of year fatigue?
End-of-year fatigue is the feeling of year end pressure that creeps up on you around November or December.
It stems from wanting to finish the year positively but knowing that you still have a ton to do and the clock is ticking.
Moreover, you’re trying to balance it all with a seemingly endless to-do list that includes holiday shopping, planning, gift wrapping, and more.
If this feels like you, know that you’re not alone.
In a recent study, 41% of people said their stress increases more toward the end of the year compared to other seasons.
But the good news is that you can manage that year end pressure. I’ll tell you how next.
How to manage year end pressure
I know – year end pressure feels overwhelming and impossible to overcome.
But it IS manageable, regardless of the number of tasks, errands, and goals on your to-do list.
Here’s how to do it in just four steps:
- Say no to lower priorities
- Take a step back
- Focus on the right things
- Take action
1. Say no to lower priorities
You’ll never get to the end of your to-do list.
So… stop trying!
Yep, you read that right.
I can’t stress this enough: now is the time to be honest and admit that you can’t possibly finish it all.
After all, you have a finite number of hours, and the year will end regardless.
So, if you’re one of those people with a million shallow tasks, wipe them off your plate altogether. It’s time to say no to everything BUT your top priorities.
And if you have a task without a deadline, cut the cord!
From now on, use your energy for only the most essential tasks.
But make sure you have a plan – you don’t want to improvise your shallow work.
⚡Action item: Review your to-do list and eliminate anything that doesn’t have a deadline or isn’t essential.
You can hear more in this video:
2. Take a step back
If you’re feeling year end pressure because of deep work tasks, I have some good news and bad news.
The bad news is that, like I mentioned before, you can’t do much to change it. You can’t fit six months of work into six days (or even six weeks).
The good news is that, instead of letting all that guilt and frustration build, you can accept the situation for what it is.
Listen, I know exactly how it feels to fall short of a big goal you’ve set for yourself.
But remember, a big goal is exactly that. Something we aim to achieve.
And it’s never a good idea to sacrifice your sanity to hit a goal that, if you haven’t achieved yet, you won’t – especially not at the end of the year.
So here’s what you’re going to do.
⚡Action item: Take a big step back from the to-do list you just re-examined and draw a line in the sand. Be honest about what you will and won’t get done.
Then, realign yourself with your goals and get ready to hit the ground running on January 1st.
3. Focus on the right things
Instead of all those things you won’t get done, there are three things you should be focusing on during the holiday season.
The first is family.
I don’t know about you, but I love spending time with the people who matter most to me during this time of year – Carey and our children.
But, really, family should be your number one focus regardless of where you are in your work life. That’s time you can’t get back.
Remember: you can spend time with your family and enjoy the holidays. You can’t cram a year’s worth of work into a month.
The second thing you need to focus on is you.
Instead of what you haven’t finished, take a moment to reflect on the last year and pat yourself on the back for everything you did accomplish.
I bet it’s more than you realize!
Finally, focus on preparing for the year ahead.
Take whatever energy you have left – and I get it, year end pressure will zap you! – and save it.
Get rested, prepare mentally and physically, and prepare for January 1st.
⚡Action item: Instead of unfinished work, focus on your family, your accomplishments, and preparing for next year.
4. Take action
To be as productive as possible, even in the face of year end pressure, you need to ask yourself three questions.
1) What’s your team’s most important project?
What needs to be done by the end of the year that will set you up to hit the ground running in January?
Instead of trying to make your way through a pile of tasks, focus on those priorities.
2) What can be delegated?
I see it all the time.
Toward the end of the year, clients come to us frazzled and frantic about how much time they don’t have to finish their tasks for the year.
But when we look at their time trackers, they’re spending a lot of that precious time on things they either don’t need to do, or that can be delegated!
Truthfully, you can outsource most of your end-of-year tasks. Think of who you can collaborate with or delegate to to ensure it gets done.
3) What does good enough look like?
When it comes to year end pressure, it’s not about perfection. It’s about simply being good enough.
When we ask ourselves this question, we open ourselves up to a ton of different and sometimes creative ways to get a task done.
⚡Action item: Ask yourself each of these questions and answer honestly! Then, plan accordingly.
What’s next?
At the end of the day, year end pressure is hard, but you can get through it.
It just takes some hard work and a lot of honesty.
Luckily, we’ve got just the right tool to help.
It’s called the Winning the Week Worksheet.
Based on our tried-and-true Winning the Week Method, it’s a way to get on top of your to-do list, conquer your overwhelm, and ease that year end pressure.
Get it for FREE here:
